A medal-shaped relief commemorating the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics bid with a background photo of Chairman Lee Kun-hee looking on as Pyeongchang is announced as the host of the 2018 Winter Olympics. A medal-shaped relief commemorating the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics bid with a background photo of Chairman Lee Kun-hee looking on as Pyeongchang is announced as the host of the 2018 Winter Olympics.
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Empowering Dreams: Supporting the PyeongChang Winter Olympics Bid

In July 1996, Lee Kun-hee was unanimously elected as an IOC member at the IOC General Assembly held in conjunction with the Atlanta Olympics. This was a distinguished recognition from the international sports community for his longstanding contributions to the advancement of sports.

Chairman Lee Kun-hee takes the IOC official member oath at the IOC General Assembly in July 1996.

July 1996: Lee Kun-hee took the oath as an IOC member at the IOC General Assembly

Chairman Lee took his first official steps as an IOC member at the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics, and it was there that he devoted himself to promoting the Olympic spirit of world peace and humanitarianism. From that time forward, he worked tirelessly to engage people around the world through the Olympics, promoting both Samsung and Korea on the international stage. For him, it was one of the most rewarding experiences of his life.

IOC President Jacques Rogge announces Pyeongchang as the host city for the 2018 Olympic Winter Games at the 2011 IOC General Assembly.

July 2011: PyeongChang was selected as host city for the 2018 Winter Olympics at the IOC General Assembly in Durban, South Africa

“PYEONGCHANG”

On July 6, 2011, PyeongChang was officially named host city for the 2018 Winter Olympics at the IOC General Assembly in Durban, South Africa. Lee Kun-hee’s support of the bid was unwavering. In the four years since 2007 when the bid was launched, he traveled to 33 cities, covering a distance equivalent to seven laps around the Earth.

Just as these small candles light up this vast hall, Seoul's selection as host city for the 1988 Olympics gave us hope and transformed our history. Today, naming Pyeongchang as the host city for another Olympic Games will break down the walls between the two Koreas and pave the way for a future filled with peace and happiness for our children.

July 2007

His unwavering commitment to bringing the winter games to Korea was fueled by the conviction that a successful bid would propel the country forward into a new economic era, then defined as the goal of hitting 30,000 dollars in per capita annual income. As the country’s foremost sports diplomat, he personally met IOC members in an effort to gain every vote possible.

A photo of Chairman Lee Kun-hee looking on as Pyeongchang is announced as the host of the 2018 Winter Olympics at the 2011 IOC General Assembly.

July 2011: The moment PyeongChang was announced as host city for the Winter Olympics at the IOC General Assembly held in Durban, South Africa

Chairman Lee’s victory in bringing the Winter Olympics to Pyeongchang was not just a personal triumph. It enabled meaningful progress towards national development, world peace, and the realization of the shared aspirations of the Korean people, which were important challenges to which Chairman Lee had dedicated his life.